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Serie A Strike Over; Season to Start Friday

By Andrew Das September 6, 2011 2:29 amSeptember 6, 2011 2:29 am

Italian league officials and the country’s players association signed a one-year agreement on Monday that resolved their labor dispute and cleared the way for the start of the Serie A season on Friday.

The players went on strike in August, wiping out the first round of matches, but a break for international games bought the sides some time to find enough common ground to get the season going. A.C. Milan will host Lazio on Friday in the season opener.

From the A.P.:

While details were still emerging, the agreement was expected to stipulate that the sides reach a deal over the next 30 days on the last remaining conflict – a clause concerning the rights of players to train with the first team. Clubs want the clause to state they can force unwanted players to train away from the first team or accept a transfer.

Changes to the government’s austerity package eliminated the other major conflict, a new solidarity tax that would have applied to high-wage earners like top-division footballers.

“It was worth having such a fierce dispute,” said Serie A president Maurizio Beretta. “The clubs obtained a lot of what they wanted. It’s a very innovative agreement.”

The agreement is only for one year, however, instead of the usual three, and there was no word on what would happen if the sides failed to reach a resolution in 30 days on the matter of unwanted players.

So instead of peace in our time, Italian soccer may have merely kicked the tomato sauce can down the road. Stay tuned.

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